It was on Sunday, Dec. 17, 1933 that a Mr. B. Virdot placed a small advertisement in his community newspaper, the Canton Repository, announcing his desire to help 50 to 75 families struck by the Great Depression. He simply asked that respondents write a letter describing their circumstances. The ad created such an overwhelming response that Mr. Virdot decided to double the number of families he helped, all the while promising anonymity to each. Nearly 75 years later, Ted Gup discovered a suitcase stuffed with letters and a bank ledger. The discovery sent the former investigative reporter on a journey into the lives of behind each letter. Searching through records and interviewing relatives, Gup pieces together the incredible story of the Depression and its impact on Canton, Ohio. In some cases, Mr. Virdot’s gift put food on the Christmas table, in others the unexpected gift allowed for a doll or shoes.

Along the path of his investigative work, Gup also unravels the story of his grandfather, Sam Stone, a Hungarian immigrant, with a secret of his own.This is a fascinating and poignant book, and a masterpiece of reporting and research. In compelling vignettes, Gup delivers the brutal realities of the Depression and how families struggled and survived. I love this book. I will give it as a Christmas gift, and recommend it to other readers. Gup expertly weaves individual stories together with a history of the Depression and his grandfather’s life creating a beautiful work that reads like fiction but with all the compelling truth of history. ~Wendee